Obituary of Murray Franklin Stanley Bowman

Bowman: Murray Franklin Stanley (April 5, 1948 - February 9, 2016) It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of Murray Franklin Stanley Bowman at St. Catharines General Hospital on February 9, 2016. Murray lived most of his life in Grimsby, Ontario, and was predeceased by his parents, Roy and Ruth (Edmonds). He will be sadly missed by his sisters Shirley Pyatt (Dennis) of Grimsby, Patricia Beurteaux of Marmora, and brother Jeffrey (Lynn) of Hamilton; and by his nieces and nephews, Kathleen Pyatt of Grimsby, Judith Pyatt (George Zammit) of Cayuga, David Beurteaux (Emilia) of Derby, Western Australia, Danielle Beurteaux of Brooklyn, New York, and Marc Beurteaux (Hana Kukal) of Marmora. Murray also leaves two grand nieces, Elizabeth and Madeleine Beurteaux of Derby, Western Australia, his aunt, Edyth (Edmonds) Nickerson of Grimsby, and his cousins Elizabeth (Burton) Wagner (James) of Beamsville, Robert and Leslie Edmonds of St. Catharines, and Deana (Croteau) LaSalle (Craig) of Florida. Murray attended the Ontario College of Art in 1968 and was a well regarded and gifted artist. He also was a wonderful musician (who could forget the Black Cats?). He was a curator at the Grimsby Public Art Gallery when it was first opened, where he also taught art to adults and children, besides continuing to work on his paintings in a studio nearby. After having been the victim of a hit-and-run accident in September 1983, which left him with significant injuries, he also contracted Hepatitis C from tainted blood during one of his many surgeries. Despite these blows, he lived his life like a champion, always retaining his sense of humour (and a stock of really awful corny jokes). He worked with St. Catharines transit on wheelchair accessibility and with disabled school children. Murray had wonderful care throughout the almost 33 years of his illness for which we are grateful. Our family sends particular heartfelt thanks to the staff of Linhaven, St. Catharines, for their wonderful care and support during the latter part of Murray's life, and to Brain Injury Community Re-entry (BICR) Niagara, Richardson Court, St. Catharines, for their care and support for many years prior. Cremation will take place at Merritt Funeral Home, Smithville. There will be no visitation. A Celebration of Life service will take place on Saturday, March 5, 2016, at 1:30pm, St. Andrew’s Church, Grimsby, followed by a gathering at the Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations to a charity of your choice would be appreciated.